Bridging climate science, citizens, and policy

State of the Union Science and Energy

Bush talked some about science and energy matters tonight. Some details and my analysis below.

“To build a future of energy security, we must trust in the creative genius of American researchers and entrepreneurs and empower them to pioneer a new generation of clean energy technology.”

We apparently must trust in that genius up to the point where his political hack appointees redact every scientific conclusion brought forward and actively work to threaten researchers’ work. But entrepreneurs can get some tax breaks. Heh.

“Let us fund new technologies that can generate coal power while capturing carbon emissions.”

Repeat after me: there is no such thing as clean coal. Solar and wind are cleaner. Let’s work on those, ‘kay?

“Let us increase the use of renewable power and emissions-free nuclear power.”

Yes to the first. Heck no to the second. True to Republican values, it appears they want to build nuclear (nukular if you’re Bush) plants now and let future generations deal with the nuclear waste.

“And let us complete an international agreement that has the potential to slow, stop, and eventually reverse the growth of greenhouse gases.”

There’s an international agreement now and we’ve thus far refused to sign onto it. It’s not a matter of one existing or not, it’s a matter of stop acting like a petulant child and working with the rest of the world.

“The United States is committed to strengthening our energy security and confronting global climate change.”

Bulls***. Maybe the citizens are, but our politicians clearly are not. Bush and Cheney jump when the Saudis say to and leading Republicans maintain climate change is a hoax. That’s not taking things seriously.

“So I ask the Congress to double Federal support for critical basic research in the physical sciences and ensure America remains the most dynamic nation on earth.”

I enjoy the hypocrisy here. Bush’s budgets have consistently underfunded science research and we’re becoming less dynamic with each day. NREL almost lost their funding in the past couple of years and other labs in Colorado are having their budgets cut this year, following cuts last year. You have to think science is real before you can talk about its funding.

“In November, we witnessed a landmark achievement when scientists discovered a way to reprogram adult skin cells to act like embryonic stem cells. This breakthrough has the potential to move us beyond the divisive debates of the past by extending the frontiers of medicine without the destruction of human life.”

We still don’t know how useful these manipulated lines will be. Scientists know much more about embryonic stem cells. And when I hear Republicans call for fertilization clinics to be closed, I’ll buy into this ‘human life’ nonsense they bring up.

“So I call on the Congress to pass legislation that bans unethical practices such as the buying, selling, patenting, or cloning of human life.”

And no human-animal hybrids. All these things are among the most critical issues we’re facing today. Almost as important as scary brown people who hate our freedom.